Research news

I’d also like to remind you that this is a forum for celebrating the achievements of all of our colleagues throughout the University, so please send your stories (or story ideas) to us at research.content@scu.edu.au so we can include them in future editions.

Best wishes,
Professor Mary Spongberg
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Academic Capability)

On the subject of ethics, the revised Human Research Ethics Low Risk Committee and process came into effect on Tuesday 1 August 2023, and the new review process will apply to all low risk applications submitted via IRMA from that date. The turnaround time for Committee review will be two weeks, and submission and meeting dates, together with other information on the new low risk process, will soon be updated on the website. You can send any queries to the Ethics Office at: Ethics.lismore@scu.edu.au in the first instance.

Just reminding all researchers working on projects with and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, that you must also follow the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research (The AIATSIS Code). This Code, in parallel with the National Code, ensures such research follows a process of meaningful engagement and reciprocity between the researcher and the individuals and/or communities involved in the research. If you are interested in learning more about the Code, it is available at here.

We’d like to emphasise that the Code is intricately connected to frameworks governing the ethical conduct of research involving human participants, including the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. The AIATSIS Code outlines additional requirements aimed at realising the objectives of respect, reciprocity and recognition. Researchers are required to carefully consult the AIATSIS Code, along with the Code for Responsible Research and the National Statement, when applying for ethics approval to undertake research with and involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and concerns.

If you’d like to better understand your responsibilities under the AIATSIS Code or are involved in the supervision of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Higher Degree candidates, it’s important you sign up for AIATSIS Training and additional training around supervision. Please contact the Chair of the HREC, Professor Liz Mackinlay, in relation to this.

‘I’m really passionate about ensuring that the work we do with people has value both for our researchers and the people we work with’, she says. ‘Taking care of people in that process is the most important thing.’

Professor Mackinlay brings many years’ experience of working in ethics to her new position, with her former role with the University of Queensland involving working on both low- and high-risk ethics, reviewing the University’s human ethics and establishing a new Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) process, and serving first as Deputy Chair, then Chair, of the HREC.

‘In terms of ethics from a research perspective, I’m keen to make sure we consider ethics in the ways that we need to, and shift from a disabling, “tick-the-box” narrative to a process where we have a community of practice which is enabling,’ she says.

You can contact Professor Mackinlay at: liz.mackinlay@scu.edu.au

On Thursday 3 August the inaugural Living Lab Think Tank brought expertise from Southern Cross University and the University of Technology Sydney – its two founding universities – together with professional bodies, and state and local government agencies to look at how we can strengthen and embed circular economy strategies into flood reconstruction efforts on the Northern Rivers.

The Think Tank model responds to questions posed by those designing public policy and programs by inviting teams to come up with innovative solutions to our region’s waste challenges. From here, the Living Lab will be developing research and demonstration projects to foster infrastructure delivery and economic development, and to assist the region’s transition to a circular economy.

Thursday 10 August saw ANU’s Associate Professor Roslyn Prinsley, Head of Disaster Solutions at the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions (ICEDS), deliver a talk at the Living Lab on how the Institute, together with regional communities, is developing the first-ever Australian guidelines to integrate Nature-based Solutions into flood resilience.

The ability of Nature-based solutions (NbS) to address flood risk is receiving increasing global attention due to a growing understanding that current approaches to flood resilience and flood mitigation are not working – something we’re all too aware of in the Northern Rivers.

Associate Professor Prinsley’s address, which she concluded by answering attendees’ questions, was enthusiastically received, and provided a great deal of food for thought on this important sphere of research.

You can keep up with what’s going on at the Living Lab, including upcoming events, through their website.

The training takes approximately one hour to complete, and concludes with a 10-question quiz that you must score at least eight correct answers to pass (you can re-attempt if necessary). Certificates will be automatically generated and available for download on Blackboard once you have passed the quiz.

Complete the training

Here’s how:

• log in to Blackboard
• select ‘Research @Southern Cross University under the menu on the right-hand side underneath My Information and Workgroup Sites
• select Research Integrityon the menu on the left-hand side to navigate to the training

You can find out more about Research Integrity here or, if you have any queries about the training, please email: researcher.development@scu.edu.au.

As you’d be aware, the field of research is never quiet or still – as evidenced by the number of activities and developments we have for you to read about here. I look forward to hearing more about your research achievements as the year rolls on, and to showcasing them in future newsletters.

Highlights of the team’s contribution to the conference included:

• two invited speakers (Danielle Bull and Charmaine Bernie)
• facilitating a workshop on our Indigenous Health major (Vicki Tillott and Associate Professor Stuart Barlo - a packed session that saw people standing outside of the door in order to listen)
• delivery of an ePoster Spotlight presentation (Lisa Couzens)
• delivery of scientific panel presentation about neurodiverse affirming practice in occupational therapy (Dr Kitty Foley)
• facilitating the OT career journeys in research and academia (Dr Kitty Foley)
• co-authoring a paper on consumer involvement in curriculum design (Dr Michelle Bissett)

Congratulations to you all!

This review will inform future policy and decision-making on the use of synthetic turf in public spaces, which means Southern Cross University’s research is set to make a positive difference at government level.

You can access the final report here.

In another study, Chris and Gurpreet had a group of team sport athletes undertake interval running training sessions on both synthetic grass and natural grass on different days, measuring markers of heat stress such as core body temperature, skin temperature, sweat rate and heart rate to see if training on the different surfaces influenced physiological responses. And if you’re wondering – yes, it did!

Well done on all fronts, Chris and Gurpreet!

As multiple factors—including cultural and religious beliefs and other concerns about organ and tissue donation—affect registration, this project is not aimed at pushing organ and tissue donation among diverse communities. Rather, it seeks to encourage more people to officially register their organ donation decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register, which is crucial to next of kin honouring that decision when someone passes away.

The research aims to develop a model that can be both scaled and tailored to ensure equitable access to transplantation, influence policy, deliver substantial economic and health benefits and, most importantly, transform people’s lives.

Do you know someone who’s looking for a PhD scholarship in this area?

This project is offering a PhD scholarship at Southern Cross University—to find out more, please email  gail.moloney@scu.edu.au.

You can find out more about this important area of research here.

In the book, Dr Baroutsis and her co-author consider how newspapers and social media influence policy processes and how media mediums are used in, and affect, education policy. They consider effects of the datafication and digitalisation of the social world, particularly for education, exploring media logics of practice and the reporting of education stories, such as those about school accountability and Australia’s performance in reading, mathematics, and science. They also look at the role of social media and digital activism in speaking back to policy.

The Award is a Category 1 grant that provides an annual stipend for the duration of a student’s PhD, plus access to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) facility, and travel assistance to the facility.

Mona’s research question is: Does nutrient enrichment enhance the loss of old stored carbon in seagrass beds? She hypothesises that

elevated nutrient levels will stimulate higher primary production and respiration in seagrass beds, leading to the degradation of older carbon in seagrass sediments. To test this, she will date the dissolved carbon fluxes released from high nutrient and low nutrient seagrass bed using radiocarbon dating (an ANSTO area of expertise).

Having three students securing the Award in this prestigious and highly competitive scheme in the same year is a wonderful achievement. Sincere congratulations to Ryan, Mona and James!

Researcher Hour is held over lunchtime (from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm) every Wednesday – you can join via this this link.

Digital Research Services, Technology Services and Library Services staff also attend the sessions to provide support to the participating researchers.

Looking forward to having you join us!

Melissa comes to us from the University of South Australia, where she worked as a Partner Engagement Manager. In this role she identified and developed early stage collaborative opportunities and building strategic partnerships for UniSA Business Academics and the University as a whole.

You can contact Melissa by emailing hdrinternships@scu.edu.au or calling her on (02) 6620 3234.

Lastly, don’t forget to upload your accepted manuscripts to the portal--potentially enabling you to reach a wider audience, increase your citations and eliminate the need to pay article processing fees (APC).

What’s not to love?

The more input received into this crucial area of research, the better the outcomes for everyone, so why not complete the online survey, which focuses on roles and workplaces, and on any explicit models, frameworks or principles guiding everyday practice. This data will then be processed through peer-to-peer creative engagement, with potential for co-design and co-creation.

You can access the survey here, and you don’t have to give your name, so you can provide your answers candidly with full confidence.

Please email any questions to: michelle.banfield@anu.edu.au.

The Award offers:

• first prize of £1,000, plus a webinar platform to highlight the winner’s research, plus five years free membership of the International Fertiliser Society
• two runner-up prizes, each of £500, also with a webinar platform to highlight the winner’s research, plus five years free membership of the International Fertiliser Society
• free membership of the Society for all entrants

Entries for this year’s Award will be accepted until 30 September 2023 and, if you’d like to find out more, you can click on this link.

Here’s what two of last year’s participants have to say about the program’s benefits:

The Impactful publishing program was instrumental in preparing and refining my article for successful publication. It helped me to develop critical writing skills, of which abstracting and crafting claims of significance were particularly useful.

Equally as important, the program provided the structure within which I was able to commit to the development of the article and via which I could observe others experiencing, and indeed overcoming, the same issues I was confronting. I was inspired by other participants’ progress, and guided by the session leaders and the experiences they shared with us. I’m really grateful to all involved.

Richard Stewart
PhD(Law) Candidate
Faculty of Business, Law and Arts

As an early career researcher, I found the program very helpful in guiding me through the publication process, and it ultimately resulted my first publication.

Helen Clark
Student Ambassador
Office of Engagement

If you’d like to avail yourself of the benefits of the Impactful publishing program, keep an eye out in future newsletters for program dates and registration details.